War tribunal gets new prosecutor

Tureen Afroz

Staff Correspondent

The government yesterday appointed Barrister Tureen Afroz, a Supreme Court lawyer who also teaches law at Brac University, as a prosecutor of the international crimes tribunals dealing with war crimes cases.

Law Minister Shafique Ahmed told The Daily Star that his ministry approved her appointment and that she will enjoy the status and facilities of an additional attorney general.

With Tureen, the number of the prosecutors of the tribunals now stands at 22.

Two international crimes tribunals have been dealing with the cases filed on charges of committing crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971.

Tureen Afroz extensively studied relevant laws and the trial of the cases, State Minister for Law Qamrul Islam told reporters at his office in the Secretariat.

Therefore, she can benefit the prosecution team at the tribunals with her talent and knowledge, he added.

Replying to a question, he said the government will take an appropriate decision on banning the politics of Jamaat-e-Islami since this has become a popular demand.

Qamrul hopes that an appeal will be filed with the Supreme Court next week against the verdict on Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdul Quader Mollah, seeking his death sentence in the case.

The verdict of International Crimes Tribunal-2 on February 5 sentenced Quader Mollah to life in prison for committing war crimes.